Winning the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel is starting to look easy for Lake Charles (Well Said) as he added another victory to his tally on Saturday night. Trainer Amanda Kelley has recorded more wins in the Open Pace than any other trainer in 2022 when Lake Charles won the $15,000 feature for the fourth time of the season. Starting from post six in a six-horse Open, Lake Charles wasted little time moving out to the front end and never faced much of a challenge while going coast-to-coast in 1:52.1.
The public’s 1-2 betting favorite held off pocket-sitting longshot American Zest A (Larry Stalbaum) who finished second while Keystone Dakota (Luke Hanners) earned the show spot. Lake Charles’ score was one of three on the night for his connections as owner Scheigert&Alliesracing, LLC, trainer Amanda Kelley and driver Leon Bailey also scored with multiple Open Pace winner Some Waratah A, who went wire-to-wire in an $11,500 conditional race on Saturday, and Belmont Major N, who prevailed in the $13,000 Winners Over.
Bailey piloted four winners on the card in total. Kelley’s six wins in the Open Pace this season are far more than any other conditioner in the ’22 campaign at the Spa.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at 12 Noon.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser
